Sewage Overflow Contaminates Stevenson Creek Near Clearwater, Florida

A dead manatee was discovered in a small drainage canal connected to Stevenson Creek. This incident followed a recent sewer overflow from the Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility, which officials stated was caused by a power outage affecting the manual operation system. Clearwater officials reported that approximately 45,000 gallons of wastewater entered Stevenson Creek through a manhole near Holt Avenue and Russell Street. Due to the contamination, warnings are in place advising the public against swimming, fishing, or drinking the water until further notice, and daily water sampling has been underway since Sunday.

The contamination event triggers the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's monitoring mandate for the affected body of water. The incident requires Clearwater officials to manage the resulting public health warnings and potential cleanup costs. The ongoing testing and investigation into the cause of the manatee's death are central to the situation.

Clearwater city council had previously established a minimum-wake zone for Stevenson Creek.